New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-05-18

WAAeUO AlSNoO CsAASA l10 1CCt Ills 1l66dO SLllu
breast, with what trembling hands
did he raise the heavy head on his
knees, how anxiously, with what look
OF love, despair and hope did he gaze
into the silent, unconsciousface
"Father!" cried he, your Max is
here! It is /! You hear me; open
your eyes only a little, only that /
might know that you live, that / can
tell it to mother! Please, dear, good,
father, open your eyesp'
The hot tears streamed down the
cheeks of the child and fell on the
forehead of the man; and was it the
tears, or was it the sobbing, beseech-
ing voice which opened the tired.
closed eyes? Who can tell?-but they
did open, and Max hung on his ia
theirs neck overpowered with joy.
"Child, you here?' said the father,
with weak voice, after having looked
at him some time in a bewildered
way MAX
Eyes, it is /, father" cried the little
fellow. half frightened, half joyful. 81
came to fetch you; bring you home
to mother. Are you sick, father?
Are you
He did not dare to say what he
thought.
Il thinkitis my leg" said the ia
ther, and tried to sit up.
"Have you pains?'; asked Max,
kneeling and covering with both hands
the bleeding wound Of the leg.
"Only a little-but am thirsty. so
thirsty''
II knew that" said Max, looking
for the things he had dropped. CAL
wounded are thirsty. have brought
water-here- your own canteen.
There, drink; that will refresh you;
and perhaps you are hungry. Doyou
want some bread? Only just a little
piece"
He put the bread in his fathers
hand, then he took his handkerchief
and tried to bandage the leg as we'll as
he could. "Mother will make 1t bet
ter, if we only get to her." he said en-
couragingly, whilst he ran to the up
turned cart.
II cannot raise it," said he, after
having tried hard to do so; ''but Bav
will carry you home, that will do; and
we will walk very slow, soyou should
not have too much pain. l will help
you,-be not afraid"
Slowly indeed, but with great exer.
ton from little Max, who was bathed
in perspiration, they succeeded. First
Bays harness was cut and he was put
close to the wounded man, and then
the father was helped on the horse.
One moment Max thought he should
first fetch his mother; but then he
was afraid to leave his father among
the dead on the battlefield, where the
fight might perhaps be renewed on the
morrow. At last he had his father
safely on the back of the horse, and
Max held the bride. Gently, quite
gently they went, step by step, away
from the forest, out on the meadows,
toward the village. At first the moon
and stars lighted up their way; then
they grew paler and in the east the
sky began to redden.
''Now we are soon with MOTHER"
said Max, and looked anxiously into
the pale, tired face Of his father. Now
they could look up the village street,
and now they could see their own
house door-and there-yes, there
stood mother-and now-now she had
seen them-and- ~
A few seconds later she was with
her husband and child. One glance
told her what had happened. The
morning sun shone family on the un-
covered head OF the boy and the faint
ly smiling face Of the wounded man.
eve have brave boy" he said, lay
ing his hand on the child's head.
The mother looked with glistening
eyes at her boy. She had forgotten
the fright he had given her in TIE long
hours that had passed.
When the father was safely in bed
and the wound stopped bleeding u..
der the cooling bandage, and the pain
had subsidized so that he could sleep,
then the mother stole out into the
next room, where Max waited for her
"Mother," he said, clasping his arms
round her neck, 81 ran away from you
secretly could not do otherwise;
and, you sect was good"
His mother pressed him to her heart
and kissed him and said, MY own
Max, my little hero"
Several weeks later all the Inhabit-
ants OF the village had returned. The
war had ended, and on the careworn
faces OF the returning began to appear
again peace and hope for future con
tentment and happiness. Max's IA
ther sat on the bench before his house
with his bandaged leg, but in full re
covery. Gladly he greeted every new
arrival. Each one stopped and want
ed to hear how he had Jared, and he had
to relate, and how he liked to tell all.
And when his story was ended then
the neighbors asked for Max, they
war ed to see the boy; and many d
rough hand was laid on his shoulder,
and many a moist eye gazed into his
shining face.
Max, you are brave boy,' said
the men; and the boys OF the village
stood around and asked: Max
were you afraid-not at an?-not a
tiny little bit?''
81 do not know" said Max. 81
only always thought Of father"